This Father’s Day, Dads Need Health Insurance

Most Uninsured Are Men

Washington, DC – A new study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) and the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) reveals some bad news for men: they are a majority of non-elderly adults in the United States who lack health insurance, according to an analysis of the 2009 March Current Population Survey.

One in five men ages 18-64 – about 21.2 million –are uninsured, compared with 17.2 million women in the same age group. This gap in coverage is consistent across various demographic groups.

The group most likely to lack health insurance is younger, unmarried men—but men are less likely to have health insurance than women at every age range.

Married men lack health insurance in greater numbers than married women before the age of 65, with 18.4 percent of married men between the ages of 26 and 34 lacking insurance.

“This disparity in health insurance between men and women is a serious problem for families,” said Dr. Heidi Hartmann, President of IWPR. “With so many men lacking health insurance, I can think of no greater gift for fathers this year than the security of knowing that they will have coverage in case of illness. Men are often bread-winners for their families, and family members often depend on them for access to health insurance.”

The data show that men stand to gain the most from health-insurance reform, with 4 million more men than women ages 18 to 64 uninsured in the United States across age and marital status.

The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialogue, and strengthen families, communities, and societies. IWPR's work is supported by foundation grants, government grants and contracts, donations from individuals, and contributions from organizations and corporations. IWPR is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization that also works in affiliation with the women's studies and public policy programs at The George Washington University.